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Planting Under Trees - Part 11

© Marge Talt

 This week, in this series about planting under mature deciduous trees, we're moving across the garden to the West Border. This is one of the oldest parts of my garden, the bones having been planted in about 1980. At that time, of course, the trees weren't quite as large and there was more sun. But, from the beginning, huge old oaks (Quercus), maples (Acer) and black locusts ( Robinia pseudoacacia) on the neighboring property have overshadowed all.

 The significant portion of this border is dominated by three native trees; a boxelder (Acer negundo, a bird cherry (Prunus spp.) and a dogwood (Cornus florida) who were all here when we came. I wish I had possessed enough forethought to have removed the boxelder and the cherry while they were still small enough to have accomplished this ourselves. As it is now, they are so large, I would need an arborist and a fair amount of ready cash to get rid of them. Wildlife likes the cherry, but I don't since it spends its time spreading seedlings over a wide area. Seedlings, I might add, which are difficult to pull once they get large enough to notice. The boxelder is also a prolific seeder. I must pull a bushel or more of seedlings each year. The young of this weed tree closely resemble poison ivy (Rhus radicans), which is also seeded by the birds, so one must look before one grabs bare-handed.

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The West Border

 The entire West Border is about one hundred feet (30.48 m) long. We're going to be concentrating on this south end portion. The tree on the left is the boxelder and to its right is the bird cherry. Just to the left of this bit of border is part of our driveway. The dogwood is on the right side of the photo. Between these trees are massed Rhododendrons and evergreen Azaleas. Immediately behind the bench, the rusty red is provided by a lovely tree that I planted, a 'Bloodgood' maple (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'.

 'Bloodgood' maples are elegant small trees, slowly growing to fifteen to twenty feet (4.57 - 6.09 m) in height with a spread equal to or greater than their height. They are rated hardy from USDA zones 5 or 6 to 8. They put on a bit faster growth when young, reaching about ten feet (3.04 m) in ten years. They will grow in sun, but as you can see, they do equally well in quite a bit of shade. Mine has, however, developed an arching form in an effort to find a bit of sun, but I don't mind as it is so graceful. If you're within its zone tolerance and in need of a small tree, I highly recommend this one.